1. Using the Virginia Standards of Learning Standards of Learning (SOL) Resources
From a Presentation Given by Dr. Yvonne Holloman, Director Office of School Improvement, VDOE

2. What is a Verified Credit?
Pass the Class
Pass the SOL Test
Verified Credit

3. Standard Diploma Requirements
Discipline Area
Units of Credit
Verified Credit
English 4 2
Mathematics 3 1
Science
History and Social Science
Health and PE
N/A
Fine Arts or World Language
Economics and Personal Finance
Career and Technical Education
Electives
Student Selected
Total 22 6

4. Advanced Diploma Requirements
Discipline Area
Units of Credit
Verified Credit
English 4 2
Mathematics
Science
History and Social Science
World Language 3
N/A
Health and PE
Fine Arts or Career and Technical Education 1
Economics and Personal Finance
1 (Beginning with th Graders)
Electives
Student Selected Test
Total
24/26(Beginning with th Graders) 9

5. Why are the SOL’s Changing?
Prepare students to compete in today’s global economy
English, Mathematics, and Sciences
College
National and International Benchmarks
Career
Critical Thinking, Creativity,
Innovation
Collaboration
Citizen-Readiness

6. What parents should know about the new mathematics standards
Virginia’s new mathematics standards are a key component of a broader initiative to ensure that young
Virginians are truly college and career ready when they graduate from high school. The mathematics
standards and corresponding tests reflect the fact that today’s students require more rigorous
mathematical knowledge and skills to pursue higher education and to compete in a technologically
sophisticated work force.
The Standards of Learning (SOL) for each subject identify the essential academic content for each
grade level and course. The Virginia Board of Education revised the Mathematics SOL in 2009 to
ensure that Virginia graduates will continue to compete successfully with their peers in other states and
countries in the global economy.
The revision process drew upon the expertise of national
organizations such as the College Board and ACT
(publishers of the SAT and ACT college-admissions tests),
college faculty and classroom teachers and mathematics
specialists from Virginia school divisions.
The new mathematics standards also are equal in rigor and
depth to the national model standards — known as the
Common Core State Standards — that many states have
adopted.

7. New Tests Adopted by the Virginia Board of Education
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
English 11 Writing
English 11 Reading
Earth Science
Biology
Chemistry

8. Standards of Learning (SOL) and Testing
Minimum Expectations
What student should know and be able to do
Annual assessments
Increased Rigor
Math
Science
English
Technology Enhanced Tests
Beyond Multiple Tests
Multiple Answers

9. Old SOL’s New SOL’s Remember Solve Understand Multiple Choice
One Answer
One Step
Low or No Application
New SOL’s
Analyze, Synthesize, Evaluate
Problem Solve
Multi-Step
Multi-Answer
Real World Connections
Technology Enhanced Items
Word problems

10. Teachers Discuss the New Tests

11. Technology Enhanced Items: A Video Demonstration

12. English 11 Writing SOL Test: Persuasive Paper Checklist
Prewriting
Choose a position/topic
Generate ideas for specific audience and purpose
Drafting
Produce arguments to support my position
Defend my position with facts, examples, data, and reasons
Show evidence to support each main point of an argument
Justify why the evidence is credible
Introduce claims, acknowledged and distinguished the claims from alternate opposing claims – address counterclaims
Organized the reasons and evidence logically
Produced sound judgments of effective conclusions
Revising/Editing
Proofread for Standard English
Used appropriate transitions to link sentences and paragraphs
Varied sentence patterns
Adapted content, vocabulary, voice, and tone to audience, purpose, and situation

13. Some say that the journey is more important than the destination
Some say that the journey is more important than the destination. They argue that people find more joy and satisfaction in working toward a goal than in achieving it. Others say that it is the destination that gives meaning to the journey. They argue that the process of working toward a goal would be meaningless without its achievement. Take a position on this issue. Use reasons and specific examples to support your ideas.
Many schools require students to participate in volunteer programs in their communities as a requirement for graduation. However, some people feel that requiring students to volunteer defeats the purpose of volunteering. Do you think students should be required to volunteer in their communities to receive their high school diplomas? Take a position on this issue. Support your response with reasons and specific examples.
Because of safety concerns, many states have increased the age at which teens can begin to drive. Your state legislature is considering raising the minimum driving age from 16 to 18. Do you think the minimum driving age should be raised? Take a position on this issue. Support your response with reasons and specific examples.

14. “Some schools use cell phones in the classroom for educational purposes. Think about the effects of allowing students to have and use cell phones in classrooms. Take a position on this issue. Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.”

15. Prewriting Drafting Revising/Editing
Some schools use cell phones in the classroom for educational purposes. Think about the effects of allowing students to have and use cell phones in classrooms. Take a position on this issue. Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.
Prewriting
Choose a position/topic
Generate ideas for specific audience and purpose
Drafting
Produce arguments to support my position
Defend my position with facts, examples, data, and reasons
Show evidence to support each main point of an argument
Justify why the evidence is credible
Introduce claims, acknowledged and distinguished the claims from alternate opposing claims – address counterclaims
Organized the reasons and evidence logically
Produced sound judgments of effective conclusions
Revising/Editing
Proofread for Standard English
Used appropriate transitions to link sentences and paragraphs
Varied sentence patterns
Adapted content, vocabulary, voice, and tone to audience, purpose, and situation

16. Writing Test Practice Items

17. Reading Test Practice Items

18. Science Test Practice Items

19. Math Test Practice Items

20. What Denbigh is Doing to Prepare Students and Support Teachers…
Lesson plans focus on students’ level of thinking
2 Week Formative Assessment Cycle
FLEX Every Wednesday
After School Tutorials
In School Pull-Outs in Math and Social Studies
Saturday Academy
Hired Retired Math and Social Studies Teacher to Help Students During the School Day

21. What can parents do to help?
Have your child attend remediation and extra help sessions
Have your child work on the released practice items
Have your child complete SOL review packets that will be available on the school’s website
Call the school and make an appointment with the teacher, administrator, etc when your child is not making progress

22. Benefits of AP Earn credit or placement for qualifying AP Exam grades
Stand out in the admissions process
Earn academic scholarships and awards from colleges and universities
Experience a college-level exam
Be prepared for college-level course work
Boost your GPA

23. AP Environmental Science
AP Course Offerings
Science
AP Biology
AP Environmental Science
Math
AP Calculus
AP Statistics
Social Studies
AP Human Geography
AP World History
AP US History
AP Government
AP Psychology

24. AP Course Offerings English AP English 11 AP English 12 Arts
AP Drawing
AP Music Theory
Languages
AP Spanish

25. What to do if you want to take an AP class…
Talk to your counselor about the AP course offerings at DHS
Talk to your parents about your willingness to take AP
Talk to your teachers about the AP courses in their departments
Sit down with your counselor and sign up!
What to do if you want to take an AP class…

26. Questions, Comments, Concerns